Page 150 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2019

barbering
Man Meets
When Chuck Kelly started in the salon business 33 years ago, it was more or less by accident. After graduating high school at the young age of 16, Kelly knew he wasn’t quite ready to go away to college.
story and photo by Chuck Kelly Salon Spa
Salon
“My dad was a real estate broker
at the time, and he was approached to sell Chris’ Beauty College by the owner,” said Kelly. “Throughout the process he got to know more about the cosmetology school. Rather than sit idle, he urged me to attend classes there.”
Cosmetology was never something Kelly intended to do professionally. In fact, he didn’t even take his state board exams to become certified. Instead, he went on to attend Ole Miss as planned, but moved back to the Coast when his father became ill.
Returning home, Kelly got a job at
Chuck Kelly, center, with his talented stylists.
a department store at Edgewater Mall and cut his friends’ hair on the side for “kicks and beer.” With more and more of Kelly’s cuts hitting the streets, local salon owner Jheri Ellis took notice.
Men enjoy a good 15-minute shampoo & a quality hair cut just like women do
very high percentage of male clientele,”
he said. “Many of them enjoy our spa services as well.
These men are mainly business executives who have busy and demanding jobs and enjoy the relaxation of
by talented stylists. “Many of our stylists do great barbering,” Kelly said. “Men enjoy a god 15-minute shampoo and a quality hair cut just like women do.”
Men’s cut and shampoo sessions include scalp and hand massages and a steamed towel wrap. Another popular service is 5-minute hair color, a very quick and discrete color process which takes place right at the shampoo bowl.
“I had known
Jheri since I was a child,” Kelly reminisced. “He saw my work and thought I should really give it a go.” With Ellis’ support, Kelly took his state board exams and the rest is history.
As a male in a predominantly female industry, Kelly always keeps the men in mind. “We actually have a
a manicure or massage.”
As far a salon services go, Chuck
Kelly Salon Spa offers men’s cuts
150 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • October 2019
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Chuck Kelly Salon Spa
360 Courthouse Rd., Gulfport | 228.896.0800 www.chuckkellysalonspa.com